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Tuesday, May 18, 2010

After six rounds of the 2010 USHL Futures Draft, a total of 90 players from the 1994 birth year were chosen by USHL Member Clubs today.

The expansion Dubuque Fighting Saints had the first overall pick in the Futures Draft and with that selection, chose forward Riley Barber from the Compuware U16 program in Michigan. Typically, players selected in the Futures Draft don't crack a lineup in the USHL right away, but Dubuque Head Coach Jim Montgomery envisions the 16-year-old Barber being on the ice in the League sooner than later.

"It's a great honor," Barber said of being drafted with the top pick. "I didn't expect to be first overall but I am really happy and excited. When I first moved to Michigan a few years ago [Barber originally hails from the Pittsburgh area] and started looking at all the leagues, I learned that the USHL was a top league where I can develop as a player. I can't wait."

Moments after the first pick, the expansion Muskegon Lumberjacks selected a player Barber knows well, as defenseman Garret Cockerill was chosen second overall. Cockerill and Barber were teammates this past season with Compuware.

Of the 15 selections in the first round of the Futures Draft, ten are forwards, four are defensemen, and one is a goaltender. The Waterloo Black Hawks had three picks in the first round, having acquired two additional picks via earlier trades.

The USHL Futures Draft, limited by its structure to six players per Member Club this year, recognizes players born in 1994 that – at this point in their still-young hockey careers – have shown the potential to develop the special set of on-ice skills and dedication to play in the USHL. "That potential is both a gift and a responsibility," said USHL Commissioner Skip Prince. "We hope all of these great young players continue on their development path to wear the colors of a USHL Member Club."

"But we also know that players at this age and skill develop along different timelines," continued Prince. "Some of the players not drafted in today's Futures Draft will develop into top prospects by next year – and we will be there to welcome them to the League as well. As today's draft proved, the talent base out there continues to improve."

2010 USHL Futures Draft – Round One

Dubuque – Riley Barber (F)

Muskegon – Garret Cockerill (D)

Sioux Falls – Bryan Moore (F)

Waterloo – Vince Hinostroza (F)*

Omaha – Adam Chlapik (F)

Des Moines – Miles Koules (F)

Indiana – Robert Polesello (F)

Fargo – Justin Wade (D)

Green Bay – Gavin Stoick (F)

Waterloo – Zach Stepan (F)**

Lincoln – Luke Johnson (F)

Youngstown – Tim Davison (D)

Chicago – Zach Thompson (G)

Waterloo – A.J. Michaelson (F)

Cedar Rapids – Ian Brady (D)

* pick acquired from Sioux City

** pick acquired from Tri-City

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)